Sanitary toilet



Feb. 9, 1932.

w. HoLoFF SANITARY TOILET Filed Feb. s, 1931 s sheets-sheet 1 Nh mm mm mm @FV m, W.

BY )74A/LAM ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 9, 1932. w. HoLoFF SANITARY TOILET Filed Feb. s, 1931 INVENTOR. M//LL/AM HOL oFF ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 9, 1932. A w. HcLoFF v 1,844,578

SANITARY TOILET 4 Filed Feb. 3, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. h/lLL/AM HoLoFF -VBY ww@ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 9., 1932 PATENT oFFIcI-z` WILLAM noLoFF, `or" `Los ANGELES, oALIFoaNrA SANITARY lToILET ,Application `led February 3, 1931. Serial No; 513,222.

My invention `relates to and has for its purposethe provisionof atoilet embodying mechanism by which a sanitary cover sheet can be withdrawn `from `a magazine and *5 spread upon the seat of the toilet so that in the event the seat is not ina sanitary condition,` the coversheetfwill provide adequate protection for the user of the toilet against contamination from the seat. 211.0 It is a further purpose of `my invention to provide a sanitarytoilet, the 'mechanism of which lis `hydraulically ope-rated and is responsive to flushing of the toilet bowl, to raise theseat` from the bowl andto grip la cover sheet in vthe `magazine for withdrawal of the sheet rointthe magazine automatically the mechanism upon lowering of the seat manually. f

.l willdescribe only one form of sanitary toilet embodyingmy invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims. U In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in plan one form l oi' sanitary toilet embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the toilet in side elevation with the toilet seat shown in a lowered position `for use. Figures 3 and are views `similar to Figl ure: 2`and illustrating diiferent positions of the toilet seat.

Figures l5 and 6 are enlarged detail views showing inside elevation and in open and closed positions respectively, avsheet gripping device embodied in my invention.

Figure 7 is ajview o the sheet :gripping device in iront elevation.` Figure "8 is an er`1lar ,1fed` sectional view 4talenonlthe lineS-S of Figure '1, and

Figure 9 isa plan view `of al sanitary cover sheet which isapplied to the toilet seat by 4the mechanism embodiedin my invention.

Referringspecifically `to the drawings in which sinn-lair referencecharacters designate V. similar parts in :each ofthe several views, my

invention in its present embodiment comprises 'al turbine T of conventional design, the casing 10 of `which has an inlet .connected to a pipe l11 leading from asource of water sup; ply and `embodying a conventional,flush valve 3 V ofthe automatic The outlet 1201the casing is connected to the bowl B of a toilet, and j|ournaled in the casingis ra rotonR (Figure 1 which is driven in the direction of the arrows in Figures 2, 3, and l by water from the source of supply when the valve V is opened `to flush the bowl. 7

The -shaftl of the turbine to which the rotor is liXed, extends from the casing and has secured thereto so as tobe driven there# by a gear Mmeshing with a rack bar 15 sup- 60 A porte-d `bya guide roller 1-6 to maintainits teeth in meshing relation with the teeth of the gear. u

To one end of the rack bar is -pivotally connectedat 17 one arm 18 of abell crank 155 Y lever `19 fixed toa rock shaft 2O mounted in bearings 21 secured on the rearward extension of the bowl B as is the turbine T. `The other arm 22 of the bell crank lever is provided with an angular extension 23 having a pin 24 engaging beneath a side edge of the toilet seatV S which latter is constructed in two sections provided with ears 25 hingedA on a rod 26 secured in `brackets 27 on the rearward extension of the bowl, to the end that z5 when the seat S is unoccupied as in Figure 2, the gear 14. will coact with the rack bar 15 to swing the seat upwardly fromthe position shown in this figure to the position shown in Figure 4f When the seat reaches the raised position shown in Figure 4, the -teethofthe gear dis`- engagethose of the rack bar so that continued rotation of the `rotor by the flushing water will be ineffective to further move the rack bar, thus limiting the raised position of the seat. '"When the seat is occupied asin Figure 3, thegear 14 is alsoout of mesh Withth-e teeth o the rack bar so thatv should the toilet befl-ushed, rotation of fthe gear by :f90

` the rotor will also be ineffective'to move the rack bar and raise the seat. 1 In order to bring the teeth of the rack bar int-o engagement `with those ofthe gear when the seat is unoccupied so that -lushing of the toilet will raise the seat, a coil spring128ris mountedV on `the rod 26 and hasuone end se- 'cured tothe bell `crank lever19 andits `other' end to one of the `brackets `2'7so as to move the rack Lbar a sufficient amount for the `first tooth 910 at one end of the series of teeth on the rack bar to be brought into mesh with the gear as shown in Figure 2, which movement slightly elevates the seat as shown in this figure, to the end that when the gear' 14 is driven by the rotor, the seat will be swung upwardly to the raised position previously described.

Rotatably .mounted on the shaft 13 is a drum 29 normally urged longitudinally on the shaft to one extreme position by al spring 30, for the purpose of operatively connecting the drum to the gear 14 for rotation by the latter, and to this end I provide a jaw clutch J one member 31 of which is fixed to the drum and the other member 32 to the gear. Under the normal urging action of the spring 30 the teeth of the clutch members are engaged so that the drum will be driven by Vand in the same direction as the gear.

Secured to the drum 29 is one end of a cable 33 which extends forwardly beneath the shaft 2O and rod 26 so as to ride on idler pulleys 34 and 35-on the shaft and rod. The cable 33 is trained about a pulley 36 rotatably mounted at 37 adjacent theforward end of the seat S, on a bar 38 secured to the bottom of the seat S, and the cable then extends rearwardly of the seat underneath the rod 26 and shaft 2() to ride on other idler pulleys 39 and 40, with its other end securedv to the drum.

A second cable 41 is secured to the drum and is trained about an idler pulley 42 mounted on an arm 43 fixed to the rock shaft 20. The cable 41 then extends transversely of the seat and is trained about a second idler pulley 44 mounted on a second arm 45 also secured to the rock shaft. From the pulley 44,

.the cable 41 extends forwardly beneath the seat S and is trained about a pulley 46 rotatably mounted at 47 adjacentthe forward end of the seat but on the opposite side of the seat opening to the cable 33, on a bar 48 also secured to the bottom of the seat.

The cable 41 then extendsA rearwardly beneath the seat and is trained about a second idler pulley 49 on the arm 45 from which the cable extends transversely ofthe seat and is trained about a second idler pulley 50 on the arm 43 from which the cable extends rearwardly and is secured to the drum 29.

The cables 33 and 41 thus provide two inner stretches 33a and 41a extending for wardly and rearwardly of the seat'at opposite sides of the seat opening, and adapted to simultaneously travel forwardly or rearwardly of the seat according as the drum 29 is driven in one direction or the other by the gear 14.

``When the drum is driven in the direction of the arrows in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the inner stretches 33b and 41b of the respective cables will be caused to unwind from the drum.

Secured to and supported by the inner stretches of the cables so as to span the seat opening, is a bar 51 which constitutes a support for a gripping` element G by means of which a sanitary sheet 52 of suitable paper or other material is adapted to be withdrawn from a magazine M to cover the seat S of the toilet and thus protect the user of the toilet against contamination should the seat not be in a sanitary condition.

The gripping element Gr comprises two l jaws 53 and 54, the former of which is fixed to the bar 51, and the latter pivoted on the bar 51 to occupy either the open or closed position relative to the fixed jaw 53 as shown respectively in Figures 5 and (i. The movable jaw 54 is releasably retained in either position by a fiat spring 55 which is adapted to bear against either of two fiat sides 56 and 57 formed on the hub portion of the movable jaw as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

lt will be clear that the gripping element will be caused to move forwardly or rearwardly along the longitudinal axis of the seat S according as the inner stretches 33a and 41 of the respective cables 33 and 41 are correspondingly moved, and in order to open or close the gripping element according as the latter reaches an extreme forward or rearward position relative to the seat, trip bars 58 and 59 span the seat transversely and are secured underneath the seat adjacent its forward and rear ends respectively. The trip bars are disposed in the path of movement of an extension 60 forward on the movable jaw 54 of the gripping element, to the end that when the gripping elelnent approaches its' forwardextreme position, the extension GO will strike the trip bar 58 and open the gripping element, whereas when the latter approaches its rearward extreme position the extension 6() will strike the trip bar 59 and close the gripping element.

The sanitary cover sheet 52 is of U-shape in plan as shown in Figure 9, and a number of these sheets are supported in the magazine M in stack formation with the closed ends of-'the sheets disposed forwardly and frictionally retained in the magazine by a spring pressed roller 61 which normally bears upon the closed end of the uppermost sheet, the forward edge o-f which .projects in advance of the remaining sheets and is positioned to cnterbetween the open jaws of the gripping element G when the latter approaches its rearmosty extreme position as occurs as the seat approaches itsv raised position shown in Figure 4.

In order to limit the movement of the gripping element G to the forward and rearward extreme positions shown in Figures 2 and 4 respectively, the rack bar 15 is provided with clutch throwout members 62 and 63 in the lfornr `ofyolres the `arms of which have bevel surfaces 64 and65 respectively which are adapted to engage a collar 66vformed on the drum 29, to shi t the latter along the shaft againstt-he action ofthe spring 30 and disengage the member 31 of the clutch J from the member 32 according as the rack bar reaches either the extreme position shown in Figure 3 or the other extreme position shown 1n Figure 4, to the end ofpreventing the drum 29 `frombeing drivenby the gear 14.

The operation ofthe mechanism above described is as follows: A

Let it be assumedlthat the seat S occupies the raised position shown in Figuret, wherein the gripping element G occupies its closed position and is gripping the uppermost sheet 52 in the magazine M. Upon lowering `the seat manually, the bell crank lever 19 will be rockedand will move the rack bar 15 to bring the teeth ofthe latter into mesh with those of the gear and cause the latter tobe rotated in a direction reverseto that of the arrow shown `in thisj figure.` As the clutch throw-out member 62 disengages the collar 66 during this initial movement of the rack bar, the drum 29 will be Vdriven to cause the inner stretches 33a and 41* of thelrespective cables 33 and' 41 to` moveforwardly of the seat S andhence correspondingly move the gripping elementto withdraw the uppermost sheet from themagazine upon the seat so that the sheetcovers the latter, `During-the initial withdrawing movement of the uppermost` sheet from the magazine, the sheet immediately beneath the 'uppermost sheet will i bythefriction between itself and the uppermost sheet, `be slightlyV withdrawn `with the latter so thatits forward edge projects in advance of theremaining sheets.'

This feeding of the second sheet continues until the rollerlliridesoff the closed end of sition shown in Figure 2the extension'() of' the movable jaw 54 of the gripping element strikes the trip bar 58 and moves the jaw to open positionthus releasing the sheet 52 afd ter `which the `clutch throw-out member 63 engages the collar 66 to disconnectthe drum 29 tromfthr-i` gear 14 and prevent further forward movement of the .gripping element.

` u 'With the seat unoccupied and upon ii'ushingthetoilet after the usedcover sheetlhas been `deposited in the bowl ofV the toilet,`the

gear 14 will be driven by the rotorR in the direction of the arrowin Figure 2, thus causing the seat to be moved to itsraised positionishown in Figure 4 `andinitially disengagingthe clutch throw-out member 63 from the collar 66 so that the drum 29 will be driven by the gear lei-and hencemove the gripping element to its real-most 'extreme position. As the seat approaches itsiraised position, the vextension 60 of thegripping element will strikethetrip bar 59 to move the `jaw 54 of the gripping element to closed position and thus grip the uppermost sheet in fthe magazine `for withdrawal therefrom upon i gages the `teeth ot the rack bar 15 so that` flushing of the toiletbowl can continuewithout transmitting the rotational movement of the gear-to .the raclcbar. In the event that the bowl is fiushed while the seat is occupied,

the motionof the gear"14 will not be trans- Amittedto the rack bar as the gear is freefrom the teeth of the latter, nor `willthe` gripping element move rearwardly as the clutch J i has disconnected the drum 29 from the gear.

i Although I have herein shown and described only oneform of sanitary `toilet embodying' my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention andthe spirit .and lscope of the appended claims.

I claim: i

Y1, A sanitary toilet comprising mechanism for `raising the seat of the toilet from the toilet `bowl 'in response to flushing of the latter,a sheet containing magazine, a gripping element having `relatively movable jaws, means for mounting thegripping element for movementforwardly and rearwardly of the toilet seat, meansfor actuating the mounting means to `movethe gripping element rearwardly or forwardly of the toilet seat according as the seat is raised or lowered, meansfor closing the jaws of' theV gripping element upon asheet in themagazine when the seat is raised, for withdrawal'of the sheet from the magazine and spreading "of the sheet on the toilet seat when the latter is lowered, `and means for opening the jaws to release the sheet when the toilet `seat has beenlowered. i

2. A sanitary toilet comprising mechanism for raisingthe seat of the toilet from the toilet bowl in response to `flushing of the latter, a sheet containing magazine, a gripping` element having relatively movable jaws, "cable and pulley means for mounting the gripping `element for movement forwardlyand rearwardly of the toilet seat,

means for, actuating theicables to movethe gripping element rearwardly or forwardly of the toilet seat according as the seat is raised or lowered, a trip member on the toilet seat engageable by the gripping element to close the jaws of the latter upon a sheet in the magazine when the seat is raised, for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine and spreading of the sheet on the toilet seat when the latter is lowered,and a second trip member on the seat engagea-ble by the gripping element to open the jaws of the latter and release the sheet when the toilet seat has been lowered.

3. A sanitary toilet comprising a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response to flushing of the toilet bowl, a shaft to which the rotor is fixed, a gear vfixed to the shaft, a rack bar in mesh with the gear, means for operatively connecting the rack bar to the toilet seat to raisethe latter in response to rotation of the gear Vby the rotor, a gripping element, means for mounting the gripping element for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the toilet seat, means for actuating the mounting means to move the gripping element rearwardly or forwardly of the toilet seat according as the latter is raised or lowered, a sheet containing magazine, and means for causing the gripping element to grip a sheet in the magazine when the seat is raised for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine and spreading of the sheet on the toilet seat when the latter is lowered. v 4. A sanitary toilet comprising a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response to flushing of the toilet bowl, a shaft to which the rotor is fixed, a gear fixed to the shaft, a rack bar in mesh with the gear, means for operatively connecting the rack bar to the toilet seat to raise the latter in response to rotation of the gear by the rotor, a drum rotatably mounted on the shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting the drum to the shaft, cables secured to the drum, pulleys mounted on the seat adjacent its forward end and about which the cables are trained, a gripping element connected to the cables to travel therewith rearwardly or forwardly of the toilet seat in response to rotation of the drum in one direction or the other, and according as the seat is raised or lowered, a sheet containing magazine, means 'for causing the gripping element to grip a sheet in the magazine whenA the seat is raised, Afor withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine and spreading of the sheet on the toilet seat when the latter is lowered, and means for actuating the clutch to disconnect the drum from the shaft when the gripping element has been moved to predetermined forward and rearward positions relative to the seat.

5. A sanitary toilet comprising a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response .to flushing of the toilet bowl, a shaft to which the rotor is fixed, a gear fixed to the shaft, a rack bar in mesh with the gear, means for operatively connecting the rack bar to the toilet seat to raise the latter in response to rotation of the gear by the rotor, a drum rotatably mounted on the shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting the drum to the shaft, cables secured to the drum, pulleys mounted on the seat adjacent its forward end and about which the cables are trained, a gripping element connected to the cables to travel therewith rearwardly or forwardly of the toilet seat in response to rotation of the drum in one direction or the other, and according as the seat is raised or lowered, a sheet containing magazine, means for causing the gripping element to grip a sheet in the magazine when the seat is raised, for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine and spreading of the sheet on the toilet seat when the latter is lowered, and clutch throw-'out members on the rack bar for actuating the clutch to disconnect the drum from the shaft when the gripping element has been moved to predetermined forward and rearward positions relative to the seat.

6. A sanitary toilet comprising a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response to flushing of the toilet bowl, a shaft to which the rotor is fixed, a gear fixed to the shaft, a rack bar in mesh with the gear, a second shaft, a bell crank lever mounted on the second shaft and having one arm connected to the rack bar and its other arm engaging the toilet .seat to raise the latter in response to rotation of the first shaft by the rotor, a gripping element', means for mounting the gripping element for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the toilet seat, means for actuating the mounting means to move the gripping element rearwardly or forwardly of the toilet seat according as the latter is raised or lowered, a sheet containing magazine, and means for causing the gripping element to grip a sheet in the magazine when the seat is raised, for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine and spreading of the sheet on the toilet seat when the latter is lowered. l

7. A sanitary toilet having a seat mounted for movement .to occupy lowered and raised positions with respect to the toilet bowl, and hydraulically operated means for moving the seat to its raised position in response to flushing ofthe toilet bowl.

8. A sanitary toilet having a seat mounted for movement to occupy lowered and raised positions with respect to the toilet bowl, a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response to flushing of the toilet bowl, and means for operatively connecting the rotor to the seat to raise the latter in response to rotation of the rotor.

9.v A sanitary toilet having a seat mountllO ed `for movement to occupy lowered and raised positions with respect to the toilet bowl,"

Y a sheet containing magazine, a gripping element, means for mounting the gripping elep ping element to grip a sheet in the magazine when the seat is raised and the gripping ele ment reaches a predetermined position, for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine by the gripping element and spreading of the sheet over the seat when the latter is moved to lowered position.

l0. A sanitary toilet having a seat mounted for movement to occupy lowered and raised positions with respect to the toilet bowl, a sheet containing magazine, a gripping element, means for mounting the gripping element on the seat for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the seat, means for actuating the mounting means to move the gripping element rearwardly or forwardly of the. seat according as the latter is raised or lowered, means for actuating the gripping element to grip a sheet in the magazine when the seat is raised and the gripping element reaches a predetermined position, for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine by the gripping element and spreading ofthe sheet over the seat when the latter is moved to lowered position, and means for actuating l the gripping element to relase the sheet when the latter has been spread over the toilet seat.

l1. A sanitary toilet having a seat mounted for movement to i occupy Vlowered and 'raised positions with respect to the toilet bowl, a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response to iiushing of the toilet bowl, means for operatively connecting the rotor tothe seat to raise the latter in response to rotation of the rotor, a sheet containing magazine, a gripping element, means for mounting the gripping element on the seat for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the latter, means operable bythe rotor in response to rotation of the latter, to actuate the mounting means and move the gripping element rearwardly as the seat 1s raised, and means for causing the gripping element to grip a sheet in the magazine when in response to rotation of the rotor, a sheet containing magazine, a gripping element, means for mounting the gripping element on the seat for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the latter, means operable by the rotor in response to rotation of the latter, to actuate the mounting means and move the gripping element rearwardly as the seat is raised, means for causing the gripping` element to grip a sheet in the magazine when the element reaches a predetermined rearward position, for withdrawal of the sheet from the magazine and spreading of the sheet on the seat as the latter is lowered, and means for releasing the gripping element from the sheet when spread on the WILLIAM HOLOFF.

seat.

the element reaches a predetermined rearward position, for withdrawal of the sheetV of the sheet from the magazine and spreading on the seat as the latteris lowered.

12. Asanitary toilet having a seat mounted for movement to occupy lowered and raised positions with respect to the toilet bowl, a turbine having a rotor mounted for rotation by the flushing water in response to flushing of the toilet bowl, means for operatively connecting the rotor to the seat to raise the latter 

